Overall, the public sentiment regarding India's defense technological advancements, particularly in UAV operations, is a blend of pride and skepticism. Many commenters express a strong sense of nationalistic pride in the achievements of India's defense capabilities while simultaneously voicing concerns about the slow pace of procurement, the effectiveness of government actions, and an overreliance on foreign technology. There is a general call for faster decision-making and genuine progress in indigenous military development.

Indian Government

Indian Armed Forces

Foreign Technology Providers

SS: The USD 3.1 billion drone deal between India and the US includes consultancy for developing an indigenous advanced unmanned aerial vehicle. 31 MQ-9B Predator drones will be distributed among the Navy, Air Force, and Army. The American offer for consultancy is set for discussion at the Defence Acquisition Council meeting under Narendra Modi 3.0, aiming to boost indigenization in defense with significant time savings in drone development.

Consistent-Figure820

slowwolfcat

Isn't all the technology around building advanced drones export restricted under ITAR and/or EAR?

RiverboatTurner

[What could possibly go wrong with helping India build advanced drones.](https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Trade/India-and-Russia-look-to-boost-bilateral-trade-by-50-by-2030)

Icy_Comfort8161

Seems like anything the US helps India with, they'll turn around and hand it to the Russians, probably a mistake to continue any kind of military partnership with them until they realize they're friends with a terrorist state.

Kadlekins_At_Work

Another example that comes to mind are the commercial courts of Singapore that are so efficient that they are also able to handle work from Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

As long as our government organizations are efficient and capable, they will be an asset to the world and will be in demand.

Unfortunately in India most of our government jobs are not allocated based on merit but on other considerations that may be good for society but are not really good for the functioning of the department. The military is an exception that therefore is very efficient and has demand in the world.

MaffeoPolo

Did you write this yourself? Because I'm in awe how you casually suggested that we should start doing United States' dirty work for some money and equipment and be their side-kick just like Israel. 

Also, Subramanyam Swamy is a total hack, pay no heed to his opinions in these regards. He should stick with religious matters as they suit him. 

I totally agree with the premise of keeping our military modern and efficient but this whole post of yours conviently brushed aside the geopolitical realities, India's own interests and ambitions, and future prospects of indigenization.

impossiblePie287

Nah, not a huge supporter of increasing military's role beyond security - getting into revenue generation for itself, as an arm of diplomacy etc. 

&gt; Israelis who capitalise on their very efficient military to develop a domestic arms industry

It's the other way round. The domestic arms industry, nurtured by them since their creation, has made their military into an efficient force. The military doesn't do it, the state controls both effectively, because it has to. They will actually be annihilated if they don't. 

As you anyway cite, despite all their military efficiency they are still unable to fund it themselves (dependence on US subsidies). The Israeli example kills your point in fact.   

&gt; Subramanian Swamy

Nah man, not the right figure to  follow. He'll say the exact opposite in some time and then cite whichever of his opinion lands as some immaculate wisdom.  

&gt; Indian military establishment is not in its own right earning any money.

As it should. We're not a corporate state. The role of state institutions is not to make profit, its welfare of the people. Profit might be incidental in functioning of state corps but that's not the aim. 

State should not get into business spaces unless absolutely necessary to ensure privates do not get disadvantaged. 

&gt; Pakistan also leases out. its forces to Qatar, UAE and other Arabian countries.

Let's look at Pakistan only for lessons on how not to do things. In fact, its the best example of what happens when a state let's military go unchecked in economic sphere. State institutions will always have an edge over privates in whichever economic activity they get engaged in. 

What you're actually pointing to is the need for India to allow private security contractors like Wagner and Blackwater. Yes India should allow those, and legally ensure they can only act outside Indian borders. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_private_military_contractors

&gt; they remain fearful of an intelligent and independent military. Our military leaders too seem happy to take it easy.

As they should be. I would absolutely hate if India were to follow on the lines of n number of third world countries led by military dictators. 

&gt; It is an existential threat

The Ukrainian democracy is combating the existential threat pretty well. We have as well across the wars imposed on us. We went nuclear in 1974 and then Operation Shakti in 1998 under democratic regimes directing response to existential security threats. It's very visible that we've upped the efforts at independence in defense procurement since the 2020 clashes.  

Can things be better? Always. 

But a corporate military is absolutely not the way to go.

OnlineStranger1

If we consider pakistani model of monetization, then apart from defending country, our Armed forces should also run their malls, Papa John's franchises, cement factories etc...

Rish_m

This sounds like a recipe for disaster. Look up the commercialization of the Pak army.

godmadetexas



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&gt; SS: The USD 3.1 billion drone deal between India and the US includes consultancy for developing an indigenous advanced unmanned aerial vehicle. 31 MQ-9B Predator drones will be distributed among the Navy, Air Force, and Army. The American offer for consultancy is set for discussion at the Defence Acquisition Council meeting under Narendra Modi 3.0, aiming to boost indigenization in defense with significant time savings in drone development. 

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GeoIndModBot

This is great! We need more drone capability. Read an interesting article from Swasti Rao on what we can learn from the ongoing war in Ukraine and drone tech is right at the top. For those interested: 


https://theprint.in/opinion/ukraine-doesnt-need-a-navy-to-dominate-black-sea-its-drones-are-making-russians-retreat/2180998/

[deleted]

Our drone R&amp;D is dead in gutter right now. Except some startups making swarm drones and other small drones, there is little to no development on HALE and MALE drones. 

Also considering how our babus and military love foreign goods, it will be a much needed boost to indigenous drone development.

133kv

India is very much primed to maintain neutrality; defense sale concessions are not going to make a firm military alliance happen. While I very much am willing to spend or sacrifice to build ties between India and America, we should *definitely* keep an eye on what we hand out.

I don't think that selling or not selling them drones will change our mutual diplomatic or strategic posture, and drones are a sensitive area. I would say that I am neutral-while-leaning-against this decision. 

IMHO there are other things I'd rather sell: F/A-18Es, marine turbines, industrial equipment, armored vehicles.

thashepherd

Uh, asking from ignorance, isn't India still pretty pro-Russia? Is this a good idea?

IrishBearHawk

Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan emphasized the importance of self-reliance in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and counter-UAV systems.

India's Defense Technology and UAV Operations

Why This Matters

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What the people want